Future proofing for generations to come…

Inadequate playing facilities along with associated changing rooms and suitable land have been limiting factors to the development of St. Peter’s GAA Club Warrenpoint for decades. The Club currently operates a multi-facility strategy on four separate sites in the Warrenpoint area.

On 20th December 2018 the Club purchased the Pony Field at Moygannon, adjacent to Paírc Liam Ií Úr, which following full Planning Permission secured on 26th November 2021 will facilitate improved safety access from the main Warrenpoint / Rostrevor Road and the provision of a new GAA playing pitch, a two story pavilion incorporating changing rooms etc. and a walking track.

An Our Vision (OV) Phase 1 Patrons Fundraising Scheme was launched in May 2019 to assist with the planned Our Vision project and raised the fantastic sum of £406,439 including Gift Aid. Unfortunately due to excessive inflationary construction costs, the revised estimated cost for the project of £1,650k exceeded the original forecast cost of £750k by 120%.

Phases

Much has been achieved, and the first four phases of the OV project developed to date, detailed below have cost £1,010,000

  • Phase 1: Land purchase of 5.54 acres at Pony Field and adjacent 0.44 acres;
  • Phase 2: Essential site enabling works / new entrance;
  • Phase 3: provision of a full sized GAA sand carpet grass pitch at the Pony Field incorporating preparation and earthworks, pitch capping layer, pitch drainage, pitch surfacing, pitch maintenance, irrigation, ducting, fencing, ball stops, goal posts, dug outs, and scoreboards in accordance with approved Planning Permission. To allow adequate time for seeding to settle, we expect the new pitch to be available for club teams from 1 April 2026; and
  • Phase 4: Provision of internal road to existing car park, including hardcore, kerbs and tarmac surfacing plus grass seeding around the periphery areas of the new pitch.

The Club has funded £615k (60.4%) of the total capital development cost of £1,010k to date, from its own resources, the balance of £395k funded via a 15 year term loan from Community Finance Ireland.

The Club would now like to proceed to complete the Our Vision Capital Development Project, with the provision of planned changing rooms etc. and a walking track at an estimated cost of £640k. In order to progress the project, the Club plans to launch an Our Vision Patrons Fundraising Phase 2 scheme OV2, to raise a target of £400k, with the balance coming from net proceeds of sale of investment house at 15 Mary Street and grants.

You are asked to join the collective club team to ensure the delivery of this exciting project to future proof the GAA for future generations in the Warrenpoint area.

A Proud History…

St. Peter’s GAA Club, Warrenpoint (Cumann Pheadair Naofa C.L.G.), with a growing membership of 1200 members, currently operates as a fully integrated urban club model for GAA, Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football and GAA FOR ALL.

Operating at the heart of its local community, for whole of family, for whole of life, St. Peter’s GAA Club has 36 teams and 145 plus games coaches/mentors, and provides a full range of community, cultural, and health and well being activities.

The GAA in Warrenpoint has a proud history, with the first club formed in 1888, the desire is to have the proposed Our Vision Capital Development Project completed to coincide with the Club’s 140th Anniversary in 2028.

Become a St. Peter’s GAA Warrenpoint Development Fund OV2 Patron today

The proposal is, we would ask at least 400 people to make a commitment to a contribution of 82p per day for the next 4 years.

In order to implement this proposal and to facilitate efficient and practical administration of the project, only 4 options are available to people who wish to commit to be OV2 Patrons of the St. Peter’s GAA Development Fund and these are:

Choose from one of 4 easy options…

A commitment prior to 1 September 2025, to make a Monthly Standing Order payment of £25 per month for 4 years; or

A commitment to make 4 Annual Standing Order payments on 1st September each year, commencing 1 September 2025, for 4 years of £300; or

A commitment to make a single payment of £1,200 prior to 1 September 2025; or

If personal circumstances permit, Patrons, may wish to exceed these contribution levels, however commitments in terms of Cash or Standing Orders would need to be completed, prior to 1 September 2025.

To continue STANDING ORDER post 4 Year Period to assist with repayment of ongoing 15 year term loans.

We are encouraging club supporters to consider leavng money for the club as a legacy in their Wills.

Tax Ref. CH1471, CASC Number: 00582. Ongoing Club operational expenditure and funding requirements, will continue unaffected. Twinning Agreement with Lugdunum CLG, Lyon, France

Your community, your club, your decision…

First, may we thank you for giving the Our Vision Project your consideration and thank you for all your ongoing support and kindness. We believe as the current generation, it is our responsibility to secure an exciting future for St Peter’s GAA Club for this and future generations.

If the St. Peter’s Our Vision Development project is to be proudly implemented, we believe it will require a great team effort. In terms of TEAM St. Peter’s GAA Club we mean working Together Everybody Achieves More. We all need to work together with a common community and united Club goal, to MAKE IT HAPPEN.

As part of our GAA Green Club initiative we are planting 650 mature Irish trees at Páirc Liam Uí Ír / Pony Field

In conclusion, we pose the following three questions to you, in respect of the St. Peter’s GAA Club Warrenpoint Development Project:

If not now, when?, If not us, who?, If not together, how?

To put this another way, in ten words “if it is to be, it is up to us”.

Should you wish to discuss this project or have any questions, please contact in confidence: any member of the St Peter’s Club Development Fund Steering Committee or email: secretary.warrenpoint.down@gaa.ie.

We attach a St. Peter’s Patron/Standing Order Option Form, which should be completed and returned to St. Peter’s GAA Club Warrenpoint Development Fund c/o Feargal McCormack, ‘Dun Darach’, 24 The Woodlands, Warrenpoint, Co Down BT34 3WL.